4th Grade Lesson Plans
Project #1 The History of Farm Work In Santa Clara County
4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.
(6). Describe the development and locations of new industries since the turn of the century, such as the aerospace industry, electronics industry, large-scale commercial agriculture and irrigation projects, the oil and automobile industries, communications and defense industries, and important trade links with the Pacific Basin.
Focus Question: How has agriculture helped California become an agricultural power?
Task #1: Go to Topic 2 Exhibit, Slide #11 photo “Villareal Family Picking Prunes on Kimball Ranch”. Write down at least five things that you notice and five things that you are wondering about when you see the picture.
Task #2: Watch the following mini-documentary from the "Migration, Housing, and Orchard/Field Work" and write down your answers to the following questions.
- What was grown in the Santa Clara Valley?
- Who were the workers?
- What were their jobs?
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Task #3: Read the following information about the California agricultural industry and take notes about what you learn
- Topic Two Overview
- Timeline of Crops- What was Planted When
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Project: Create a graphic novel about what you’ve learned regarding the California agricultural industry.
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Make sure to include the following information:
- Who? The people involved in agriculture
- How? Describe the labor involved
- When? Years of industries
Project #2 Focus on Mexican American Cannery Workers
4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.
(6). Describe the development and locations of new industries since the turn of the century, such as the aerospace industry, electronics industry, large-scale commercial agriculture and irrigation projects, the oil and automobile industries, communications and defense industries, and important trade links with the Pacific Basin.
Focus Question: What Role Did Canneries Play in the Political Development of California?
Project #2: Focus on Mexican American Cannery Workers.
Task #1: Go to Topic 3 Exhibit, look at Slide #6 “Assembling Fruit Crates/ Del Monte Employees Sorting Apricots” and write down at least five things that you notice and five things that you are wondering about what you see.
Task #2: Watch the following mini-documentary "Mexican Women Cannery Workers" and write down your answers to the following questions.
- What was canned in the Santa Clara Valley?
- Who were the workers?
- What were their jobs?
Task #3: Read the following information about the California cannery industry and take notes about what you notice.
- Topic 3 Overview
- Go to Topic 5, Slide #2 Mexican Cannery Worker Unionization 1917-1960
Project: Create a short story and illustration about a fictional cannery worker.
Make sure to include the following information:
- Who? The people involved in canneries
- How? Describe the labor involved
- When? Years of the industry
Project #3 Focus on the Cultural Legacy of Mexican American Music
4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.
6. Describe the development and locations of new industries since the turn of the century, such as the aerospace industry, electronics industry, large-scale commercial agriculture and irrigation projects, the oil and automobile industries, communications and defense industries, and important trade links with the Pacific Basin.
Focus Question: What role did Mexican cannery workers play in the cultural development of California?
Project #3, Focus on the Cultural Legacy of Mexican American Music.
Task #1: Go to Topic 4 Exhibit, Slide #16 photo “Bernie Fuentes Band, Club Cuauhtémoc Social Dance”. Look at the photo and write down at least five things that you notice and five things that you are wondering about what you see.
Task #2: Watch the following mini-documentary "Mexican Music and Bands" and write down your answers to the following questions.
- What instruments did they play?
- What genre of music did they play?
- What was their experience like as a musician?
Task #3: Listen to a song from this playlist: Corridos Sin Fronteras Playlist, University of New Mexico. Write your observations about the lyrics and music.
- Who is the artist?
- What year was it released?
- What is the message of the song?
- What instruments were used to create this song?
Project: Create a short biography or poster with an illustration about one of the bands from the film or the song that you wrote about in task #3.
Make sure to include the following information:
- Who? The people involved in the band
- How? Describe the music scene in the Santa Clara Valley. What spaces were used to gather people for the musical performances?
- How did this artist contribute to the culture of the Santa Clara Valley?
Project #4 Focus on the 1950s Mexican American Civil Rights Movement in Santa Clara County
4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.
6. Describe the development and locations of new industries since the turn of the century, such as the aerospace industry, electronics industry, large-scale commercial agriculture and irrigation projects, the oil and automobile industries, communications and defense industries, and important trade links with the Pacific Basin.
Focus Question: What role Mexican Americans play in the political development of California in the 1950s?
Project #2, Focus on Mexican American Civil Rights Organizing in Santa Clara County during the 1950s
Task #1: Watch the following mini-documentary "The 1950s San Jose Chapter of the CSO". Read the text on Topic 5 Slides “The Formation of the San José Chapter of the CSO”, “The Founding Members of the CSO San José Chapter Excluding César Chávez” and “The Background, Recruitment and Rise of César Chávez to the CSO”. Write down your answers to the following questions.
- Who were the people that helped organize the CSO in San Jose?
- What was their motivation?
- What were the problems that they tried to change?
- What were their ideas of how to change these problems?
Task #2: Interview at least five adults in your community and or family about the following question.
- What are the five most important issues that matter to you and why?
- Write down their responses
Project #1: Create a collective graph with your classmates about the data collected from the mini-documentary.
- Some ideas: bar graph or dot graph
Project #2: Create a venn diagram with the data that you collected from the mini-documentary and compare it to the data that you collected from your interview
- Class discussion:
- How is the data similar and different?
- Why do you think some of the issues discussed in the film are still relevant today?